Winter Racing

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 973, 16 May 1930, Page 12

Winter Racing

WANGANUI’S FIRST DAY Aurora Borealis—Hurdler AFTEK winning over country at Ilawera last Saturday Aurora Borealis returned to the smaller fences at Wanganui yesterday, and she won the Century Hurdles. She is engaged in both the Great Northerns. Ponjola duly won the Wanganui Steeplechase, and that easy success will bring him into the market for the big Ellerslie cross-country race.

What was practically summer weather prevailed today for the openins of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting* The track was in perfect order and the attendance really good. The totalisator showed an increase of £1.788 over last year’s figures, but at the 1929 meeting only seven races were run, whereas eight were staged today. The respective figures were £22,56S today and £20,778 last year. The racing was interesting throughout and finishes close in the majority of events. In the jumping events 1 there was only one fall, that being Royal Acre in the Hack Hurdles, and his rider was unhurt.

The Steeplechase Ponjola gave a splendid display in the Wanganui Steeplechase and won comfortably, holding off Matu nicely over the final stages. Airtight ran a good race and Brigadier Bill also went well until he hit a fence hard a quarter of a mile from home. Maunga’s rider did not bustle his mount. Aurora Borealis won the Century Hurdles convincingly and appears to have a good chance in the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeples, for which she is liable to be rehandicapped. Perle de Leon finished well and cut down Elicit, who should be improved by the race. Mister Gamp ran a decent race, but Prince Lu disappointed. Glenstar and Whisogne had no chance.

Big Flat Events Bright Glow won the Connolly Handicap, but it was only Gray’s horsemanship that got the favourite home ahead of High Falutin’, who finished fast from well back. Admiral Brake ran a good race, while Mountain Heath, Austerity and The Swell also went well. Cashier had a bad position all the way, and Llyn Du faded out over the final stages. Equitant appreciated the turning course and won the Borough Handicap narrowly from the favourite, Royal Parade, who had every chance. Melissa nearly landed a dividend, which would have been little short of the winner’s, who paid double figures. Laughing Prince finished on well and Just an Idea ran an excellent race, as also did Potoaform and Ridgemount. Paleta ran well enough for five furlongs to suggest that his Cornwall Handicap engagement will find him at the top of his form.

Lucky Fives A feature of the day was the success of horses carrying No. 5 saddlecloth, four being winners, and one of them, Blue Paper, was at a long price. First Purua Hack Portray (£419) was elected favourite for the opening event, the First Purua Hack Handicap, with even support for Latakia (£310), Werata (£259) and Brilliant Light (£259), Blue Paper carrying £235. When the tapes went up Gueress was left and Tahoma got chopped out. Portray was smartest to show out from Blue Paper, Latakia, Paiko, Coon Song. Werata and Mangahaeri, but when they reached the half-mile Blue Paper was clear from Portray and Coon Song, followed by Paiko, Latakia, Mangahaeri, Werata and Grand Jury. Blue Paper still held command as they swung across the top and round the turn for home, Coon Song and Portray being right behind her. Three lengths away came Mangahaeri, Paiko and Latakia. The last-named finished fast, as did Werata, but Blue Paper hung on well to beat Latakia by a long neck, with Werata a neck away. Right up with the placed horses were Coon Song and Portray, while Brilliant Light (slow out of the barrier), Paiko, Grand Jury and General Gas followed.

Second Purua Hack Hunting Boy (£637) had a slight call over Valstreet (£587) and Treasury (£533) in the Second Purua Hack Handicap, with Ben Hur (£197) comparatively neglected. Miss Chatter was left at the barrier. Valstreet and Treasury began smartly, showing the way over the first furlong to Hunting Boy, Ben Hur and Crown Link. Past the half-mile Treasury and Valstreet were out clear from Hunting Boy, Ben Hur, Some Acre, Tentcall, Crown Link and Auctioneer being the order of the others. Valstreet was first into the straight from Treasury, with a gap back to Some Acre, Hunting Boy and Ben Hur. In the run to the judge Valstreet was not troubled to win by a length and a-quarter from Ben Hur, who finished fast to beat Auctioneer bj' half a length for second place. Statuary was close up in fourth place,

Another field of six lined up for the Wanganui Steeplechase and at last backers saw their fancy come home first. Ponjola (£833) was little better fancied than Matu (£740), with a drop to Airtight (£375). Kowhatu went to the front inside the first quarter-mile and showed the way down the back to Brigadier Bill, Ponjola, Matu, Airtight and Maunga. Over the double brush the first time, with a mile gone, Kowhatu was three lengths ahead of Ponjola, with Airtight, Brigadier Bill and Matu close together behind them and Maunga well back. On the next round Kowhatu increased his lead, but Ponjola ran up to him. Passing the stands the second time (one mile to go), the pair were clear of Airtight, Brigadier Bill and Matu. Running to the back Ponjola took the lead and the other four were together, with Maunga 150yds back. Four furlongs from home Ponjola was clear from Brigadier Bill, Airforce and Matu, with a gap of six lengths back to Kowhatu. Racing for the last fence Ponjola was ahead of Brigadier Bill, Matu and Airtight. Clearing the last, the hencoop, with ease, the favourite came on to score a popular victory by three lengths from Matu, who was seven lengths ahead of Airtight. Brigadier Bill was seven lengths back, well clear of Kowhatu, while Maunga was a furlong away. Kaitoke Hack Hurdles

Fifteen started for the Kaitoke Hack Hurdles, even support being accorded Royal Acre (£340), Airforce (£325), and Calithe (£308), but the winner turned up in the. little-fancied Vivo, who carried £lls, and returned a double-figure dividend. Backers of the favourite soon lost interest in the pro-

ceedings, for Royal Acre crashed at the first fence, Town Bird, Wyeford and Second Thoughts being the leaders. Racing up the straight Town Bird, Wyeford, Marica, Second Thoughts, Lin Arlington, Airforce and Skyrider was. the order. Into the back stretch Wyeford piloted Second Thought, Airforce, Town Bird, Marica, Skyrider. Lin Arlington and Valma, and Wyeford was clear across the top, with Airforce moving closer and Town Bird, Marica, First Ruler and Vivo getting in the picture. Airforce took the lead before they reached the straight and piloted Wyeford, Town Bird, First Ruler and Vivo through the gap in the last hurdle. Airforce was the winner 50yds from home, but Vivo worried him out of first money by a head, with Wyeford three lengths back. Limosa was fourth, barely in front of first ruler, with Lin Arlington and Town Bird nearest of the others. Century Hurdles Prince Lu (£74S) was favourite for the Century Hurdles, but there was

Treasury and Some Acre next, with a gap back to Hunting Boy and Tentcall. Hack Steeples There were only six starters for the Hack Steeplechase and backers declared for Waitaunaha (£837), with Red Bank (£459) better backed than anything else. Hymestrason had supporters at £263. Racing for the first fence Maidos was in front of Flying Swift and Hymestrason, but then Flying Swift assumed the role of pacemaker, being followed down the back by • Maidos, Hymestrason, Red Bank and Waitaunaha. Over the double brush in front of the stands Flying Swift showed the way to Hymestrason, Red Bank and Waitaunaha, with Maidos and Bendower well back. There was no change racing for the back with field closing up on the leader. Red Lank assumed the lead four furlongs from home and was the pilot across the top from Hymestrason, W'aitaunaha and Flying Swift. Clearing the final obstacle safely Red Bank came on to win nicely by five lengths from Hymestrason, who was three lengths ahead of Waitaunaha. Flying Sjwift was several lengths back. Maidos pulled up. Wanganui Steeplechase

good money for Elicit (£582) and Aurora Borealis (£532), Perle de Leon (£258) being at a good price. Prince Lu led out of the straight from Whisogne, Elicit, Glenstar, Perle de Leon, Aurora Borealis and Mister Gamp. Up the straight, after going a mile, Prince Lu and Whisogne were ten lengths clear of Elicit and Glenstar, with a gap of four to Aurora Borealis and Mister Gamp. Prince Lu and Whisogne raced down the back just clear of

Elicit and Aurora Borealis, with Glenstar, Mister Gamp and Perle de Leon six lengths back. Elicit headed Prince Lu across the top, with Auroro Borealis catching up, and Mister Gamp and Perle de Leon ten lengths back. Elicit and Aurora Borealis turned for home six lengths ahead of Prince Lu, Mister Gamp and Perle de Leon, but once they cleared the last fence Aurora Borealis came away to win by seven lengths from Perle de Leon, who finished fast to beat Elicit by half a length. Mister Gamp was fourth, and ten lengths back came Prince Lu.

Connolly Handicap The favourite for the Connolly Handicap, Bright Glow, carried £703, and she brought her backers through safely though it was only by the barest of margins that she beat High Falutin’ (£168), who was ninth in favour. Cashier (£471), Austerity (£431) and The Swell (£410) were well backed. Monsogne, Flying Juliet, Bright Glow and Austerity were the early leaders, but past the stands Flying Juliet and Austerity were showing the way to Monsogne, Mendip, Bright Glow, The Swell, Llyn Bu, Cashier, High Falutin’ and Admiral Brake. Six furlongs from home Mendip was in front of Flying Juliet, Llyn Du, Austerity, Bright Glow, The Swell, Monsogne and High Falutin’, but at the half-mile Llyn Bu was in front of Bright Glow, Mendip, Admiral Brake, Austerity, High Falutin’ and The Swell. Bright Glow headed Llyn Bu into the straight, where she was closely followed by Admiral Brake, Austerity, High Falutin’, Kawhakina and Llyn Bu. Bright Glow was doing it well over the final stages, but High Falutin’ came with a great run to fail by half a head to reach the favourite. Admiral Brake was third, three-quarters of a length away, closely followed by Mountain Heath, Austerity, The Swell, Kawhakina and Mendip in that order.

Borough Handicap Most money came for Royal Parade m the concluding event, the Chief Ruler gelding carrying £631, while there was good money for Ridgemount (£470), Just an Idea (£400) and Laughing Prince (£325). The winner turned up in the comparatively neglected Equitant, which carried £194. Royal Tractor dwelt and Royal Parade went out from the tapes, followed by Equitant, Kaihoro, Bernera, Laughing Prince and Paleta. At the four furlongs Equitant had command from Ivaihoro, Royal Parade, Bernera, Paleta, Melissa and Just So. Across the top Equitant, Paleta and Kaihoro were tog-ether, clear of Royal Parade, Melissa, Just an Idea and Laughing 1 mice. Equitant showed Paleta the way into the straight and after the pair came Royal Parade, Melissa and r bslung Paleta dropped out of the picture at the distance, and it i'r> aS o-i? ft to Royal ■ Parade and Melissa to get nearest to Equitant, the pair 3 W *U 2, ut *.being separated by <i head, with Equitant the winner a short neck in front. Close up and Moa bii-df f ° rm - WUh a saiJ ba <* to -Following are the results: G f , u _ rua . tH* a ck, First Division, of £1352; 3 Wereta. ' 8 .6, oT : UU J Coon Song, 7.7; 1 Portrav 7 in. a liant Light, 8.10;’ 7 p.?fko y ? li- t D?/* 1 : UUIUv 12 General oks?’7.7; X 5 Tahoma b.s, 10 Mangahaeri, S.O; 11 Gueress 7fr 13. Rioghail, 7.0. Half a length- Teck Time, 1.14 1-5. m, nech. ,• £^. rua ., y. a< - k » Second Division, of £l3s* 0 iui. —2 Valstreet (G. A Reid) x n’ Gray, 1; 6 Ben Hur, 7.9, E. Burgess 2-’ J Auctioneer, 7.13, IV. Horne, 3. ]L\ S Z'4 fetatuary, 8.1; 3 Treasury, 8.4; 11 Some f Sfe* VU 1 Hunting Boy, 5.13; 5 TentS™ Up' Ciown Link, 7.2; 11 Killigrew, 7.010 Poppy Day, 7.0; 9 Miss Chatter! 7 0 Length; half a length. Time, 1.14 1-5. Hack Steeplechase, of £175; about 2 U lle^T-. 2 R ?d Bailk <G. It. Brown), 9.11, A. McDonald, 1; 5 Hymestrason, 9.2, L. Dulieu, 2; 1 Waitaunaha, 10.5, M. Dulieu o._ Also: 6 Flying Swift, 9.1; 4 Bendower.’ 9.0; 3 Maidos, 10.0. Five lengths; three lengths. Time, 3.55 3-5. WANGANUI STEEPLECHASE Of £500; about 3 miles. 1 — PONJOLA (O. Nelson), 9.9, A. Tricklebank x 2 MATU (F. F. Newman), 9.10,* m! 11. Nicol o 3 AIRTIGHT (J. Fryer), 9.7, *IL Dulieu s

Also: 4 Brigadier Bill, 10.11; 6 Kowhatu, 9.0; 5 Maunga, 10.0. Three lengths; seven lengths. Time, 6.3 3-5. Kaitoke Hack Hurdles, of £175; R miles.—ll Vivo (J. F. Riley), 11.1, Tucker. 1; 2 Airforce, 9.3, Alister McDonald, 2: 10 Wyeford, 9.11 J, A. Skipper, 3. Also: 14 Limosa, 9.2; 12 Lin Arlington, 9.3: 13 First Ruler, 9.0; 5 Town Bird, 9.12: 5 Whenuanui, 11.7; 1 Royal Acre, 11.4 (.fell); 9 Second Thought, 9.9; 4 Skyrider, 9.8; 15 Valma, 9.0; 7 Marica, 9.0; 6 Four Aces, 9.0; 13 Calithe, 9.0. Head; two lengths. Time, 2.4 S 2-5. CENTURY HURDLES Of £400; 2 miles. 3—AURORA BOREALIS (F. K. Waller), 9.5, 11. Dulieu 1 S—PERLE DE LEON (W. J. Craig). 9.5, L. Dulieu 2 2—ELICIT (A. F. Syrae), 11.0, A. McDonald .. 3 Also started: 6 Mister Gamp, 11.6; 1 Prince Lu, 10.5; 4 Glenstar, 9.13; 7 Whisogne, 9.0. Eight lengths; half a length. Time, 3.51 2-5. CONNOLLY HANDICAP Of £300; lk miles. I—BRIGHT GLOW (11. Cleland), 9.0, H. Gray x 9—HIGH FALUTIN’ (It. Grace), 7.6. H. Wiggins 2 S—ADMIRAL DRAKE (F. Armstrong), 7.12, S. Anderson 3 Also: 6 Mountain Heath, 7.5; 3 Austerity, 7.3; 4 The Swell, 5.5; 10 Kawhakina, 7.0; 12 Mendip, 7.11; 8 Flying Juliet, 7.0; 7 Llyn Dhu, 7.0; 2 Cashier, S.l; 11 Monsogne, 7.0. Short head; threequarters of a length. Time, 2.7 4-5. Borough Handicap, of £250; 6 fur.—B Equitant (S. J. Gibbons), 7.0, W. Broughton, 1; 1 Royal Parade, 8.3, T. Green, 2; 7 Melissa, 7.6, K. Voitre, 3. Also: 4 Laughing Prince, 9.6; 2 Ridgemount, 5.3; 5 Paleta, 7.2; 6 Moa Bird, 7.13; 11 Kaihoro, 7.7; 1C Atholspear, 7.9; 9 Just So, 8.7; 3 Just An Idea, 7.9; 12 Bernera, 7.0; 12 Cuticle, 7.0; 14 Potoaform, 7.0; 15 Royal Tractor, 7.0. Long head; head. Time, 1.13 4-5.